Chapter 63

Glenda's ethereal presence seemed to cast an enigmatic shadow over the room as if she were a puzzle piece that didn't fit in the larger picture. The very air held its breath, anticipating the revelation of a sinister truth that could shatter their perceptions of reality. Her eyes remained tightly shut as Astaroth approached the table, locking his demonic gaze onto her. He could discern that the girl before him was no longer human, observing the faint sewn marks on her body. Fueled by anger, he heaved a sigh, closed his eyes, and brought his fist down upon the table with a force that shattered it into a thousand pieces.

Suddenly, Glenda's eyes flew open, and she hissed at Astaroth. In a swift move, she leaped from the table, evading his blow. Astaroth's left hand shot out, gripping her neck in an iron hold. She struggled fiercely, but his grip was unyielding. In a fit of rage, she attempted to kick him, but her efforts were futile. Astaroth then placed his right hand on her head, trying to crush it. Glenda cried out in agonizing pain as he applied pressure.

Unexpectedly, a pair of wings burst forth from her back, and new pairs of arms sprouted from her armpits. These new appendages caught hold of Astaroth's arms, overpowering him and freeing her from his grasp. As Glenda retreated to a safe distance with her newfound wings, her eyes transformed, her pupils turning yellow, and her iris slitting.

Lalitha approached her master and inquired, "What happened to her? Wasn't she human to begin with?" She sensed that Zephyrus had presumably transformed the girl. If that were true, Zephyrus' skills were certainly impressive.

"As you have probably guessed, Zephyrus tampered with her. The unsightly wings and extra arms are tasteless, despite her newfound strength," Astaroth replied. He was not concerned about the newly transformed Glenda. "He should be around here somewhere, observing his experiment," Astaroth added, this time transmitting his voice into Lalitha's mind.

"I understand, master. I will cast a few spells to lure him out," Lalitha responded silently in her mind. Astaroth left Lalitha to her tasks and focused on Glenda. The girl had moved to the other side of the room and observed him from there. It did not seem like she recognized any of them, nor was she able to speak. Other than making hissing sounds, nothing else came out of her mouth.

Astaroth pulled his sword from his subspace and walked towards her. Glenda flapped her wings and flew into the air, taking out her gigantic hammer from her subspace while eyeing Astaroth's approach. When they were about three to four meters apart, Glenda suddenly charged forward and swung her hammer in a downward blow toward Astaroth's head. The swing was quick and clean, without wasted movements. Astaroth stepped to the side, avoiding the hammer while swinging his sword toward Glenda's body. But before the sword could land, Glenda flicked her wrist, and the hammer knocked it away.

At the same time, she punched out with her left arm and hit Astaroth squarely in his chest. The blow caused him to take a few steps back. Astaroth grinned and moved forward again, stabbing his sword in a series of fast attacks toward Glenda's face. Although Glenda was using her wings for the first time after they had been attached to her body, it was as if she had had them for as long as she lived, effortlessly avoiding the sword's attacks.

"Haha, interesting! Let me enjoy this more," Astaroth laughed. He had not expected the fight to last this long. He clenched his left fist, channeling his strength into it, and shot out a punch toward Glenda.

The room filled with an electrifying tension as the two adversaries clashed, each revealing their unique abilities and powers. Every move was calculated, and the air crackled with energy. Astaroth's enjoyment grew with each exchange, and he relished the thrill of facing a worthy opponent like Glenda. However, there was a sense of uncertainty in the air, as both combatants were still holding back their full potential, keeping secrets close to their chests.

As the battle raged on, a sinister grin crept across Astaroth's face, signaling the excitement he felt in this dance of power and strength. Yet, deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that Glenda was not entirely what she seemed. Her mysterious abilities and unyielding composure left him intrigued and cautious.

As they continued their deadly dance, neither warrior showing signs of yielding, the room pulsated with an aura of danger and dark anticipation. The battle was far from over, and the secrets veiled within each combatant only added to the enigmatic and chilling atmosphere."

In the midst of their fierce battle, frustration seethed within Glenda. She threw her head back and let out a primal roar. Her body underwent a profound transformation; her wings retracted into her body, causing her size to grow twice as large, and a third eye emerged from the middle of her forehead. Her once-giant hammer now appeared small in her hand. Astaroth observed the transformation grimly, knowing that such a metamorphosis carried severe repercussions for the host.

"Since you are utilizing your life force in this final transformation, I shall no longer toy with you, Glenda. I will end your life here," Astaroth declared. His eyes turned deadly serious as he assumed a different stance with his sword. In response, Glenda crouched low, her thigh muscles tightening as her feet dug into the floor. In a split second, the floor tiles cracked beneath her, and she vanished from her original position. Before Astaroth could react, Glenda appeared right before him, her hammer hurtling toward his face.

The impact was thunderous, resonating throughout the room. Astaroth managed to deflect the blow, but the force sent him staggering backward. He realized the full extent of Glenda's newfound strength and ferocity. Each swing of her transformed hammer was a deadly threat that demanded his utmost focus.

With a sinister grin, Astaroth charged back at Glenda, their clash intensifying to a fever pitch. The walls shook as the two entities clashed, their powers colliding like violent storms.

But beneath the fierce struggle, a sense of foreboding loomed. The room seemed to pulse with dark energy, feeding off the hostility between the adversaries. The air crackled with an unsettling aura, hinting at the true horrors yet to unfold.

Finally, Astaroth's sword found its mark and stabbed through Glenda's chest, piercing her heart. Her body quivered and lost its size as she shrunk back to its original form, her lifeless head rolling backward. Astaroth left his sword in her body and sighed. In his human form, he couldn't fully utilize his demon king strength, or the battle would not have lasted this long. Nevertheless, he had relished the fight with the monstrous Glenda.

Astaroth turned to look at Lalitha and whispered in her mind, "Have you found him?" Throughout the battle, he sensed someone watching him, and he instructed Lalitha to seek out the person.

"He is hiding in the ceiling. I have cast a few spells, so once he appears, he will be captured," Lalitha replied.

"Good. Let's wait for him to come out," Astaroth said as he turned back to Glenda and walked over to retrieve his sword.

The room was now enveloped in tense silence. Astaroth's keen senses remained alert, waiting for the hidden foe to reveal themselves. The air was thick with anticipation, each second feeling like an eternity.

Lalitha's eyes darted around the room, her focus intense. She had learned to trust Astaroth's instincts, and there was no doubt that someone lurked nearby, concealed in the shadows.

A soft creaking noise resonated through the room, the sound barely audible against the backdrop of silence. Astaroth's grip on his sword tightened, ready to strike at a moment's notice. The air seemed to grow colder, and the sense of impending danger heightened.

A faint figure began to materialize above them, descending from the darkness of the ceiling. The intruder's face was obscured, cloaked in darkness, but there was no mistaking the malevolence that emanated from their very presence. The moment he appeared, the spells were activated, and magic circles appeared all over the room. Lalitha had prepared binding spells coupled with spells that prevent teleportation and escape spells.

The figure laughs and dropped from the ceiling, "You think such spells can stop me? If I have wanted to, I would have walked out of this room with your heads in my hands." As he spoke the magic circles shattered leaving Lalitha shocked. This is the first time in many years that her spells failed, she could not remember anyone other than her master, capable of such a feat. Sensing the danger of this person she cast a few more spells but all those magic shatters as well.

"Now now, let us not be hasty, magic does not work on me." The figure laughed and lift his head and face them, the figure was a short bald man. He had a disgusting evil smile on his face. Lalitha shivered involuntarily when she look at him, while Astaroth grins. He had similar subordinates in the demon world, and he know how to deal with them.